10 May,2026 07:17 AM IST | Mumbai | Shruti Sampat
Priya Malik, Karan and son Zorawar (Instagram)
This Mother's Day, poet and former Bigg Boss contestant Priya Malik got candid about motherhood, breaking stereotypes, and how her son Zoravar has transformed her outlook towards life. Reflecting on her journey, Priya shared how becoming a mother later in life was a conscious and deeply personal decision.
"As growing up as a little girl, I knew I always wanted to be a mom, I've always had a very maternal instinct," she said. However, life took unexpected turns when she got divorced at 30, moved countries, and began her spoken word poetry career. "Everyone around me was like, okay, this was the time for you to settle down and have a baby. And what are you doing? There are so many upheavals happening in your life," she recalled.
Priya explained that instead of rushing into motherhood, she chose to focus on healing herself emotionally. "I always tell people that I gave birth to poetry at that time," she said, adding that her 30s became a period of self-discovery. "I wanted to really heal myself as a person before bringing another child into this world. I also wanted to be in a very loving relationship before bringing a child into the world."
The poet emphasized that she never wanted motherhood to become a way to fix a relationship. "I didn't want to be one of those moms who's having a child to save her marriage," she said. "I wanted a child to come into a very healthy relationship with a mom who is completely healed from all of her traumas."
Priya revealed that she embraced motherhood in her late 30s despite societal pressure. "One of the first stereotypes I broke was that I had my baby way later in life," she shared. "For me, the timing was right. I was physically, emotionally, financially, and even spiritually aligned for motherhood."
The actress-poet also spoke about returning to work shortly after childbirth and the criticism she faced online. Priya revealed that she resumed performing poetry just 21 days after giving birth. "I put the baby to sleep, I pumped breast milk, I told my mother and my nanny and my husband that if he wakes up, give him this. And I quickly performed at BKC at Social Nation for 15 minutes," she shared.
While many mothers praised her decision, others questioned it. "Especially men messaged me saying, âShouldn't you be resting at home right now? Shouldn't you be with your baby right now?'" she recalled. However, Priya believes every mother's journey deserves respect. "If someone wants to be at home for 40 days or for 40 months or for 40 years, that's absolutely okay. But if someone wants to get back into things and find themselves again other than motherhood, we should be respectful of that as well."
Priya also highlighted the importance of equal parenting in her marriage with husband Karan Bakshi. "Karan and I are 50-50 partners in everything in our life," she said. "The only thing that he could not do was breastfeed. Everything else he could do."
She added that trusting fathers with parenting responsibilities is equally important. "I completely trusted Karan with the child," she said. "Let him give a bath to the baby. If he's not doing it perfectly, he will learn."
Talking about balancing work and motherhood, Priya admitted that mom guilt is real, especially after resuming international tours soon after becoming a mother. However, advice from a friend changed her perspective. "She said it is so good for her daughter to learn that it is not just mama who cares for me. It is also my auntie, also my grandma, also my father," Priya shared. "You are doing something very good for your son because you're making him learn that mama is not the only one who takes care of me."
Motherhood, according to Priya, has also changed her emotionally. "I think I'm a more patient and a more empathetic person since I have become a mother," she confessed. She credited her son for teaching her the beauty of slowing down. "Zoravar has taught me that there is so much beauty in slowing down," she said.
Reflecting on parenting, Priya concluded with a heartfelt thought. "I think we are given children to teach us lessons," she said. "Those four to five years are a gift to the parents because we will forever remember these years, even if the child won't."
